Whither Saab or wither Saab? That appears to be the question facing the Swedish carmaker as the global car market continues to spiral downwards and General Motors says it can’t afford to keep propping up the brand.

The rain was pelting down, bathing the windscreen in a cascade of water that shifted constantly as the windscreen wipers worked to sweep it away. The Michelin tyres hissed as they dug through the water and gripped the tarmac beneath.